October 14-16
Well, I’m finally getting around to writing in my journal. I apologize…it’s been a very hectic past two weeks. Anyway, last weekend I went to Madrid. My friend that is traveling around Spain was staying in a hostel there and I decided to go visit. After waking up early, buying my train ticket and traveling for 3 hours on the train, I arrived in Madrid. The first thing I did was visit the Saatchi & Saatchi office in Plaza de Santa Ana. Saatchi LA (the company I interned with this summer) gave me information before I left in case I ever got to Madrid. Anyway, they gave me a tour and I talked with a couple of people. It is so much different than the LA office, but they still get all the awards! I think they had about 60 employees compared to probably 300 in LA. Afterwards, I found my way to the hostel on Gran Via (very centrally located). I met up with my friend Tommy and settled in. Later on, we hung out with some of his friends that he met in the hostel. I ended up going to dinner with them because Tommy wanted to go to the Spoon concert (and I didn’t).
The next day, while Tommy and I were talking, we realized that he had met a girl at the concert that was from Austin Texas. Turns out, she was a friend (Annie Maldonado) from high school who is studying in Madrid. Anyway, we ate lunch at a cute Chinese restaurant (YUM-non Spanish food) and then headed for the Reina Sofia, an art museum. We looked at all kinds of art, but the most impressive was La Guernica by Picasso, which is HUGE. We also saw some really cool ones by Salvador Dali. Afterwards I tried to go to the Prado Museum, but it didn’t work out so I wandered around a bit. Later on, I met up with my sister’s friend from Duke who I’d never met. We went to some Indian restaurant with some of his classmates and then to an Irish bar. The night wasn’t so fun, but very interesting…
I woke up early the next day to catch my train home and got back around 1pm.
October 17-20
Nothing special happened this week except for the excitement that built leading up to my birthday in Barcelona. I gave a presentation about the princess of Spain who pregnant and there is a big controversy over whether it will be a girl or boy. I also received a package from home containing a ton of stuff (mostly food) that I eat at home YUM.
October 21-22
This weekend was one of the best in my life (and parts of it, the worst). After arriving in Barcelona, Vanessa and I found our way to our hostel which was ON THE BEACH (and only $24 a night, might I add). We checked in and headed straight for the beach, where my friend Chasen from Chapman was with his roommate, Shawn, from Florence (where they are studying). We waited there until Kelly, a sorority sister also studying in Italy, and her friends got there. After we all settled in, we went in search for drinks and food. For some reason, we ended up at an Irish bar (probably because there was a soccer game on and the boys convinced us to go lol). We ate, talked, drank, etc. When we were leaving though, some Spanish men offered us shots which we took and left. We spent the rest of the night out on the beach talking with a bunch of other people.
(btw, jay one of the guys with us, had his wallet stolen sometime today, but with no money inside…I didn’t know this until later on though)
We woke up the next morning, had breakfast, and headed back to the beach. Kelly, Chasen, Shawn and I went swimming even though it was really really cold. It was definitely worth it, being the Mediterranean and all! We also walked along the beach searching for pretty rocks! After a couple of hours, we got ready for the day and went for a walk. We had lunch at a cute little restaurant and I introduced croquettas to my friends (the best Spanish food ever!). Then we walked down Las Ramblas, shopping and watching the random magic shows, singers, and weirdos along the way. Next we took the metro to Park Buell, a park on a hill above Barcelona that Antonio Gaudi designed. The walk up the hill was horrific, but we made it and the views were incredible! When we got back to the hostel, we decided to nap so that we would be ready to go out. Of course, being my birthday, I was too excited to sleep.
Finally, everyone woke up, haha, and we left for a restaurant called Si Senor that a friend of mine recommended. We ordered Mango Margaritas to start off, which were soooooooo good. I had enchiladas...probably my favorite food…for dinner along with a rum and coke (hey, it is my 21st!). Later, the waiter brought the whole table shots of tequila! Next stop was a Hawaiian bar down the street (also recommended by my friend, who was born in Barcelona). My friend said they had the best cocktails in town…and he sure was right! I don’t remember what I got, but I do remember that it came out smoking in a tiki cup with a HUGE straw (see pics). They also gave me a sparkler for my bday!
We took a cab back to the hostel and I talked in Spanish to the driver the entire time! Back in our room, Chasen (who had bought candles) lit my cake and we celebrated my birthday! I had made the cake the day before with my family so that I could bring it, but it was supposed to stay in the fridge. Since it didn’t, it melted. But no worries for these college students…we used our hands and dug in! Of course, the inevitable happened and Chasen smeared cake all over my face! Very fun.
We were being a bit loud so we went back down to the beach. I had brought my camera and phone with me in case someone called or I wanted to take pictures. I was sitting on my towel with my things right next to me when a man came by and grabbed my stuff. As he started to run, we saw him and Chasen and Shawn ran after him. Turns out, he stole Chasen and Shawn’s camera’s too, but dropped them hoping that the boys would stop chasing him. Well, they didn’t stop, but the guy was a professional at this kind of thing and ran faster. When the boys came back empty handed I was devastated. I lost all my pictures from my birthday AND Madrid (I hadn’t downloaded them yet). The police that were circulating the beach drove by right after it happened, so I told them everything. They drove off looking for the man, but we all knew they probably wouldn’t find him. They came back an hour later with no information. I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep because I was so upset, so Chasen and I stayed up all night out front of our hostel. When I finally did get to bed (around 7) I only slept until 9:30 because I woke up again and kept thinking about it. We checked out (10am checkout, grr) and had breakfast at a restaurant on the beach while contemplating what we could have done the night before so that it wouldn’t have happened. Seriously, the guy was a stealth! I was so careful with my stuff! I guess not careful enough…
We spent the rest of the morning walking along the beach. We had planned to do more sightseeing, but with the way things were going, we decided against it. We had lunch downtown and then headed for the airport. Now comes the funny part. Vanessa and I couldn’t find the right train to get us back to the airport so we were running late. Once we got to the airport we ran to the check in counter, but there was a huge line! We waited for a bit, but it was getting too close to leaving so we asked to cut some people. When we got to the desk, they told us it was closed. We told them we didn’t have any bags and that we could run as fast as possible to catch the plane! He said ok, but hurry. So we ran up the escalator (my shoe caught on one and I fell!) and ran up to security. We asked to cut some more people, got through and started running again. As we were running on the moving sidewalk, my passport flew out of my hand and lands, conveniently, in between the two moving sidewalks. Vanessa continues running while I drop my bags and jump the divider to get it. When I grabbed the railings, I’m sure you can guess what happened…my hands went in opposite directions and I fell again (please keep in mind, this is the day after my 21st birthday and I had 1 hour of sleep!). I finally retrieved it and ran for the gate. When I arrived, they weren’t even boarding!!!!!!! I took a seat and almost immediately fell asleep. Vanessa woke me up when it was time to board. Once on the plane, I fell back asleep! They ended up giving us a discount for the plane being late, so everything worked out for all the hassle it was worth.
October 24-27
Another week of classes….
On Monday, I received sooo many cards and presents! Thanks to all of you who sent me something!!!! I also got a new phone (free rental) and my sister offered to buy me a new camera for my birthday! I also became a grand big sis this week, as Rachel (my lil sis in the sorority) got a lil sis! Congratulations!!!
I also filed a police report about my camera and phone which we are going to turn in to the insurance company to see if we can get anything back. While in the police station, I realized how good my Spanish is getting when I helped an old lady who forgot her glasses fill out some papers.
Tonight we have a Halloween Party and tomorrow at 5am I leave for Morocco for 5 days. I will be very careful, so please don’t worry. I am going with a travel company and 50 other people. I’m over my homesickness now (maybe thanks to the food or the traveling), but I still miss you all!!!! Keep the emails coming!
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